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The Spike or Victoria University College Review

Cricket

page 50

Cricket

Viewed generally, the 1910-1911 season was, in comparison with the previous one, our first year of senior cricket. moderately successful. Though the position of the senior team has not improved, the team itself has; the junior team was stronger individually, but curiously no stronger as a team; the third-class team was much stronger numerically, though, through many causes, chiefly the holidays, its ranks were somewhat changing and sometimes short. The Club has, notwithstanding the poor records of its teams, made considerable advance; the attendance at practice was much better than in the previous season, the practice wicket being in better condition; the averages, as a whole, are of a higher order, while, best sign of all, the younger members are developing as a result of the experience they have gained. The building up of a senior team must necessarily be a slow process.

But while our younger players are thus coming forward, it is our misfortune, in common with all College Clubs, to lose from time to time some of our oldest and most enthusnastic members. During last year we regretfully bade good-bye to D. R. Niven, who is now completing his medical course at Otago, and H. W. Monaghan, who left to prosecute his theological studies in Auckland. The former was one of the Club's founders, and was Club Captain from the time of its inception to the time of his departure, while the latter was our best all-round man since we have played senior cricket. We have also sadly to record the lapse in one F. A. de la Mare, at present "tripping it" in England; anyone hearing aught of his doings, especially in the company of one MacDougall, is requested, for the sake of the Club, not to make his information public.

A brief review of the past season shows that the senior team played 8 matches, and won 3; the junior played 9 matches and won 2; the third-class played 14 (lasting one day) and won 3, one being drawn.

The senior team started well and won its first three matches, v. Hutt. East B. and North, two of these wins being almost three-point wins, i.e., won on both innings. Thereafter, however, we were not very fortunate. Two matches, v. Central and East A., one could hardly expect page 51 to win, and in one, v. South, played just after New Year, we were much below our usual strength, owing to the vacation, but in the other two, v. Central B and v. Hutt, we made a poor showing. Mr. Saunders, the Australian coach, who, as the Cricket Association had decided, played with us, was, unfortunately, owing to illness, frequently unable to play, and this, especially after Monaghan and Niven had gone, left our attack very weak. This is one of the directions in which we expect an improvement next season—a strengthening, of our bowling. The batting, though at times disastrous, was, on the whole, fair; it was much better at the start than towards the end, but was never reliable. Our fielding was not brilliant, but few can field well on the Basin Reserve.

The junior team was largely composed of men who were on the verge of being selected for the senior team, but it seemed to lack cohesion. The third-class team was stronger in bowling than in batting, but put up several good scores—243, 125, etc. A great advantage was the limiting of the duration of matches to one day, and on account of the more central positions of grounds, less travelling had to be done than in previous years.

During the beginning of the season, negotiations were in hand for a southern tour at New Year time, to play our annual match v. Canterbury College, and then go on to Otago; also, attempts were made to play Auckland University College in Wellington. Owing, however, to the misreading of a telegram, the matches with Otago and Auckland were rendered impossible, and we had to be content with the one, v. Canterbury College, at Christchurch, on Jan. 23rd and 24th. A pleasant trip was enjoyed by the members of our team, which, as with all touring teams, was not fully representative, and many were the tales of wild delight during the visit. After a most enjoyable game, played on a good wicket, an excellent ground—Hagley Park—and in the good spirit of comradeship, we lost by six wickets. An attempt is now being made to induce a Sydney University team to tour the colony, playing the Colleges, the University team, and possibly provincial matches.

Looking forward to next year, we have reasonable prospects of" being decidedly stronger than we were at the close of last year. We hope to receive needed strengthening in both batting and bowling; the practice page 52 wicket on Kelburne Park is being returfed and cared for during the winter, for which our warmest thanks are due to the City Council Reserves Committee and to the Park groundsman. In addition, the committee, recognising that the "promising colts" need instruction, is endeavouring to obtain the services of a competent coach for the club. With the good prospects of a better practice wicket, stronger teams and a coach, we may well be optimistic. Indeed, somewhat after the style of "The Russian ambassadors," one feels like a spring poet and an "eighter." What? Haven't you heard about that "eighter"? Well, don't ask any member of the senior team; they are weary of it, and for your own sake don't ask B. The tale of that hit is like the brook.

Best Averages.—1ST XI.

Batting.
Highest score. Total run. Innings played. Not out. Average.
Monaghan 54 202 9 0 22.4
Caddick 41 139 12 3 15.4
Burns 79 197 15 2 14.2
De la Mare 31 81 6 0 13.5
Stainton 48 147 11 0 13.4
Burbidge 31 141 14 1 10 8
Saunders 32 83 9 1 10.4
Fanning 44 123 12 0 10.3
Griffiths 24 89 11 2 10.0
Bowling.
Overs. Maidens. Runs. Wickets. Average.
Saunders 153 89 375 29 13.0
Monaghan 98 12 350 25 14.0
Stainton 25 4 73 6 12.2
Griffiths 20 1 68 4 17.0
Salmond 31 6 71 1 17.7
Howden 27 3 143 7 20.4
2ND XI.—Best Averages.
Batting. Bowling.
Mackay 18.1 Broad 10.7
Broad 17.2 Miller 12.0
Bruce 14.0 Griffiths, J. 12.5
Miller 12.5 Martin 15.5
Mackay 18.0
3RD XT,—Best Averages.
Burgess 24.0 Macartney 6.5
O'Shea 20.1 Williams, H. 7.8
Bruce 12.6 Grey 8.3
Jameson 11.3 Williams, C. 10 0
Jameson 10.0